Estradiol and Irritability: What Users Say

• Pit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2023

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "This experience has been extremely unpleasant. All of my cardiac, vaginal, urinary, sleep, agitation, and hot flash symptoms have returned. I strongly believe that this medication should not have been approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The prescribing information says that 'No studies were conducted,' yet the medication uses a different adhesive to hold the micronized estrogen and has smaller dimensions than Vivelle Dot. As a retired pharmacist, I am angry that I am having to go through this situation again. It is frustrating that despite the ratio of surface area, mg's in the 'glue,' and dose being a 1:1 relationship, this medication was still allowed on the market with all of these differences. I have already made a formal complaint to the FDA, and I encourage others to do the same. Please call 1-800-FDA-1088 or report online at accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/. The struggle is real, and action needs to be taken."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 27, 2021

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Femring 0.1 is the only thing that has really worked for all my symptoms, especially moodiness, depression. After trying everything else, I was so pleased to find it. However, it definitely doesn't last for 90 days. I've noticed the past year it has lasted 8 or 9 weeks at most. This round it lasted 6 weeks, and I immediately know when it's not working. I literally feel terrible overnight - hot flashes, irritable, depressed, food cravings. I'm desperate to somehow stockpile it! I wish the company making it could address this. But like so many women's health issues, it's not that important to anyone but us."

• Rho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2021

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I had been on another estradiol patch for about a year. My husband's employer requested we start using a mail prescription, and when we did, they switched me to Dotti patches. I started wondering why I was feeling crabby and irritable again, sort of like I did before taking the patches. Also, I’ve been gaining weight. Not sure if that is also from the patches. But I’ve requested switching back to my original patch. I still wasn’t sure if this was because of the Dotti patches, but after reading these reviews, I’m sure of it. Would not recommend."

• Lda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2016

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have been on this 1 mg pill a day for 1 month. I could not stand my mood swings, irritable, my husband said I was a completely different person, just after a month. My insurance does pay. I only have to pay 8 dollars a month for it my husband said he would pay 100.00 dollars for it lol plus I have lost weight on it also very happy with it saved my marriage."

• cva...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2023

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I'm horrified by what I'm reading, and now I think I know what's wrong with me. Menopause for 3 years. Dotti is what I'm using since insurance stopped paying for Estradiol. I've been having terrible symptoms and couldn't figure it out. Dry skin and hair, insomnia, night sweats, easily irritated, fatigue, and I've just had a period?!? Had all the old premenstrual symptoms such as breast tenderness, cramps, and a 4-day period, and MOODY. I do have an appt with my OB/GYN. If Dotti is the reason, I am not happy, as it seems NO ONE likes this patch!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2023

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "This patch is horrible. I have scar marks from where the patch was placed on my inner thighs. My allergies are out of control. My irritability and hot flashes are back. I’m so angry that my pharmacy switched from Vivelle Dot to this patch when I found out I switched to another pharmacy, and they also sent me the Dotti patch. My insurance pays for name-brand medication, so this is completely unacceptable. I’ve asked the pharmacist in the past if this is the same medication, and they say they use the exact same quantities of the drug as the name-brand. I do not recommend this product."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2022

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Was on the Vivelle patch for many years and then Estradiol when it was available as a generic. Last fall, my med insurance changed and so did my mail-order prescription plan. Was automatically sent the Dotti patch. Started having symptoms I didn't relate to the patch until I made a connection and found this site - vivid, odd dreams, hot flashes, night sweats, and general irritability (hadn't had this for years on the other patches). Finally got my doctor to request the generic patch only. Of course, suddenly, it's not available through mail order, and I have to get it at a local pharmacy for more than twice the cost, and it's generic. But it's worth it."

• Dif...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 10, 2024

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have gone through multiple Mylan generics as well as Lyllana, and none of them work for me. The only thing that keeps me from raging, horrible smells, horrible body aches, and loss of memory is Dotti. I don't have hot flashes, though I have night sweats periodically (Get the BedJet, never slept better!) My symptoms are more along the odder ones: itchy ears, a burning chemical smell that burns my nose, skin sensations like being itchy when nothing is there, hearing sounds that no one else does, weakness, severe fatigue, mood swings, rages, irritability, just overall malaise. If I change from Dotti, it all comes back. I had rashes under some of the other brands of patches, others didn't stick. I am a person who can't take any generic or store brand medications. I usually take 4-5 different generics before I find one that works and doesn't make me suicidal, so I know I'm not like most people. But I would lose my life if they take Dotti away, I can't survive without my Dotti estradiol."

• Pos...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2013

Estradiol "I have been on this medicine since 1998, and as long as I replace it on time, there are no issues. Even at 53, if it is not replaced on time, I start getting agitated and hot flashes start. I always joke that it is not for my benefit that I take this, but it is for the benefit of those that are around me that I do. My only gripe is the outrageous expense."

• kat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 6, 2018

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Vivelle Dot worked for me for hot flashes, headaches, and general crankiness, but the cost! $144 a month is considerable and annoying, given what it's made of. BTW, these coupon ads do not reflect reality, in that I have taken them to all the pharmacies listed by them, and not once were they worth more than $3.00, and most of the time, nothing at all. I did try Minneville and Estrodal patches, and neither one did a thing for my symptoms, and every time the pharmacist would tell it, 'it's the same thing.' Quite obviously, the generic is not the same thing."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have used a patch for over 30 years with no issues. Recently, when I had my prescription refilled, I was given the Mylan patch. Absolutely the worst results imaginable. The patch will not stay on. I am not getting the medicine that I need. Suffering from hot flashes, headaches, irritability, etc. Cannot get another prescription filled because I can't afford to pay out of pocket, and insurance won't pay for another three months. How this is on the market is a puzzle to me. So very frustrated. Wish I could give it a zero."

• Hou...
• January 18, 2010

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "Thanks for everyone's reviews. I have been suffering through so many of the same menopausal symptoms. Had a doctor's appointment today and just cannot take it any longer. Hot flashes, no sleep, irritability, anxiety, heart palpitations, and many more. Excited to give estradiol (mist-spray form) and Prometrium a try... wish me luck."

• Unh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I had a total abdominal hysterectomy/bilateral oophorectomy in 2/19. I had elevated blood pressure and severe hot flashes, hair loss, and irritability after surgery. My gym put me on a Climara 0.5 mg patch, and it worked to keep symptoms under control. In March 2020, my insurance switched to Sandoz. They are horrible! I’ve gained 15 lbs since switching in less than a month. My belly is bloated, and I have pitting edema in my legs and feet. The patches do not stay on! I’m a nurse, and I’ve used all of my tricks to keep them in place. I tried putting Tegaderm over it, only to have the patch scrunch up under the Tegaderm. My blood pressure is elevated, and the hot flashes are back. I would not recommend Sandoz."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2018

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have been using this product for 6 months, and it alleviated all my menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, restless leg, leg cramps, crankiness, and sleep problems. I felt like my old self again and slept like a baby. I had problems at first with getting the patch on, but I finally figured it out. At the beginning, I would put a tegaderm on top of the patch to keep it on. Now I don't need that. I do use bar soap and do not moisturize that area. Lately, I am starting to get my leg cramps and restless leg back. Not sure why. Will need to go back to the doctor."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2018

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have been using the Vivelle Dot for many years. It was a godsend... a true miracle, and I loved it. Then, out of the blue, my insurance substituted the Minivelle patch for my Vivelle. Within a couple of weeks, my hot flashes and irritability came back... my quality of life was awful! Needless to say, I went back on the Vivelle patch, and life was good again. Personally, I will never use the Minivelle again."

• Car...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 9, 2021

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I’ve been using Femring for many years and absolutely love it. It controls hot flashes, mental fog, irritability, vaginal dryness, and anything else menopause-related. Easy to insert and very comfortable, don’t know it’s there. I’ve tried several times through the years to stop using it and just give my body a break, so far, menopause creeps back."

• Rin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2022

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I've had to be on birth control due to amenorrhea accompanied by months of migraines. NuvaRing has worked so well for the last twenty years, and migraines have been cut substantially. Now I'm 52, and the doctors want me off the ring by 55. They don't know if I've gone through menopause yet, as the ring masks all the usual menopause symptoms. For the past 1.5 weeks, I've switched to Climara patches with Prometrium pills. I have been overwhelmed by constant migraine and am remembering that this is how I felt every day until I got on the NuvaRing. My doctor asked if I could stick it out on the Climara a little longer and maybe the symptoms would subside. The intense irritability from walking around with a constant migraine is driving me to distraction. I feel like I am going to lash out at any random person. And now I'm hit with waves of nausea. That could be from the migraine, or it could be from the Climara. I am going to switch back to the NuvaRing pronto."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2020

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "Dotti estradiol transdermal by Amneal 0.025 is not effective compared to Vivelle Dot or Mylan. My agitation, hot flashes... everything I felt before being on the hormone patch. I’ve given them 6 weeks, and I feel awful."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2025

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I just turned 50 and for a few months now I have not felt like myself. I had a partial hysterectomy in 2021. They took my uterus, left my ovaries, but the depression and the anxiety and irritability and fatigue and headaches and all of that just ramped up after. I have always suffered from migraines, but everything just seemed to get worse and at 50 I should not be feeling this bad because I take care of myself. I finally decided to try estradiol. I started at the lowest dose 0.025 mg, change it once a week - so far the patches stay on. I put it on my shoulder though where there’s no friction, so maybe that’s why it’s not falling off. I’m only on day four, but I have noticed a difference in my mood. It seems better. Eventually I might have to raise the dose but for now I am just thankful that there are options for us. I am taking the Sandoz brand of estradiol. I sure am hoping that this is my answer because per menopause/menopause = no fun."

• Est...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "This patch was awful, it gave me palpitations. I felt extremely irritable and cried constantly."